U.S. patent number 3,988,787 [Application Number 05/581,883] was granted by the patent office on 1976-11-02 for pressure differential valve for swimming pool.
Invention is credited to Donald D. Colee.
United States Patent |
3,988,787 |
Colee |
November 2, 1976 |
Pressure differential valve for swimming pool
Abstract
A two-way valve operated by a pressure differential existing in
the fluid lines controlled by the valve for use in swimming and
therapeutic pool systems.
Inventors: |
Colee; Donald D. (Phoenix,
AZ) |
Family
ID: |
24326949 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/581,883 |
Filed: |
May 29, 1975 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/489; 4/493;
4/494; 137/112; 137/255; 137/625.13; 137/625.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K
11/065 (20130101); Y10T 137/86517 (20150401); Y10T
137/4673 (20150401); Y10T 137/2567 (20150401); Y10T
137/86686 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F16K
11/065 (20060101); G05D 007/01 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/112,625.13,255,563,625.27,625.5 ;210/169
;4/172,172.15,172.17,172.18,172.19 ;251/367 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cline; William R.
Assistant Examiner: Spiegel; H. Jay
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lindsley; Warren F. B.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pressure differential valve comprising in combination:
a valve body comprising three plastic T-shaped pipe sections
defining a hollow straight cylindrical closed ended passageway,
said pipe sections being interconnected to jointly form said
passageway,
said valve body having a first pair of fluid inlet ports spacedly
arranged in said valve body along said passageway, and a fluid
outlet port positioned in said valve body along said passageway at
a point between said pair of inlet ports,
a piston rod mounted in said valve body for movement longitudinally
of said passageway,
three pistons mounted on said piston rod, one at each end thereof
and one at a point adjacent said fluid outlet port,
one end of said piston rod being threaded,
stop means threadedly mounted on said piston rod for controlling
the range of movement of said third piston relative to said fluid
outlet port,
a pair of control inlet ports to said passageway one formed in each
end of said valve body, and
means for controlling the fluid flow through said control inlet
ports for regulating the movement of the associated piston
juxtapositioned to said fluid outlet port for controlling the
position of said three pistons to control the fluid flow from said
inlet ports through said fluid outlet port of the valve.
2. Apparatus for controlling fluid flow between two pools of water
comprising in combination:
first and second pools,
inlet and outlet ports for each of said pools,
a pressure differential valve comprising in combination:
a valve body defining a straight hollow passageway closed at both
ends,
said valve body having a first pair of fluid inlet ports spacedly
arranged in said valve body along said passageway, and a fluid
outlet port positioned in said valve body along said passageway at
a point between said pair of inlet ports,
a piston rod mounted in said valve body for movement longitudinally
of said passageway,
three pistons mounted on said piston rod, one at each end thereof
and one at a point adjacent said fluid outlet port,
a pair of control inlet ports to said passageway one formed in each
end of said valve body,
a first pair of pipe means for connecting each of said pair of
fluid inlet ports of said valve body to a different one of said
outlet ports of said pools,
a second pair of pipe means for connecting said fluid outlet port
of said valve body selectively to each of said inlet ports of said
pools,
a third pair of pipe means for connecting each of said control
inlet ports to a different one of said second pair of pipe means
for controlling the fluid flow through said control inlet ports for
regulating the movement of the associated piston juxtapositioned to
said control inlet port for controlling the position of said three
pistons to control fluid flow from said inlet ports to said valve
body through said fluid outlet port,
a pump, heater and filtering means connected between said fluid
outlet port of said valve body and said second pair of pipe means
for conditioning fluid flow to each of said pools.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As swimming pool systems become more elaborate with the addition of
separate therapeutic pools utilizing common filtration and heating
systems, the maintenance of the pool becomes increasingly
complex.
In a typical installation of this type, as many as four separate
gate valves must be operated manually to switch the filtering and
heating function from the main pool to the therapeutic pool or vice
versa.
This is especially undesirable because the routine is often
performed by children or at times when the owner is absent by a
helpful friend who is not sufficiently familiar with the system or
its controls. Aside from the possibility that proper filtering or
heating operations may not be accomplished with the present
systems, there is the danger of damaging the pump as a result of
the inadvertent blocking of water flow through the pump if the
wrong valves are closed.
Thus, a need exists for a simpler system i.e., one that is less
prone to damaging the equipment as a result of operator
inexperience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention claimed, a new and improved valve
is provided for use in controlling water flow in a swimming pool
system, the valve being operated by the pressure differential
existing in the fluid lines it controls.
It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an
improved valve for controlling water flow in a swimming pool.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a valve which
is expecially useful in controlling the flow to a common filter and
heater arrangement from a main swimming pool or from an auxilliary
or therapeutic pool.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved valve
which is automatically controlled by a pressure differential
existing in the water lines served by the valve.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a new valve
which greatly simplifies the control of the water filtering and
heating system and thereby eliminates the chance for error which
can cause a malfunction or result in damage to the equipment.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel
valving arrangement which is readily and inexpensively assembled
from standard plastic plumbing fittings.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of
novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention may be more readily described by reference to
the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressure differential valve
embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line
2--2;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plunger utilized as an internal
part of the valve shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, its left end shown
protruding from the housing shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic representations of the valve shown
in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 with FIG. 4 illustrating the position of the
plunger for a second setting of the valve;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a swimming pool filter and heating
system incorporating the pressure differential valve of the
invention; and
FIG. 7 illustrates a modification of the pressure differential
valve arrangement in FIGS. 1-6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of
reference, FIGS. 1-3 disclose a novel pressure differential valve
10 comprising a housing 11 which may be assembled from standard
commercially available PVC (poly vinyl chloride) plastic plumbing
fittings, a plunger assembly 12 and two specially adapted PVC end
caps, 13 and 14.
The standard plastic fittings utilized in housing 11 include three
"T" sections 15A, 15B and 15C and an adaptor 16 held together by
PVC pipe stubs 17A, 17B and 17C. An additional pipe stub 17D serves
as an extender on the right-hand end of the assembly. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the horizontal members of the T sections 15A, 15B
and 15C are linearly aligned with the axes of the other fittings
including adaptor 16 and pipe stubs 17A, 17B, 17C and 17D. T
section 15B with its third opening located between T sections 15A
and 15C extends laterally from the axis of housing 11 and
diagonally opposite from the third openings of sections 15A and
15C. It should be recognized, however, that the individual T
sections may be rotated about the axis of alignment as desired to
accommodate a particular arrangement of the plumbing of a
particular installation. Such rotational positions would, of
course, have to be established prior to the cementing of the joints
between fittings in the assembly of valve 10.
While cap 14 is fashioned to fit inside and around the right-hand
end of stub 17D so that it may be securely cemented in place it may
be threaded so that it can be turned or "screwed" into position
inside the threaded opening of adaptor 16. Once cap 13 has been
turned into position, it is locked in place by means of a C-shaped
clip 18 which expands radially to fit inside an annular groove
inside the threaded end of adaptor 16. Clip 18 and cap 13 may be
removed if threadedly attached to housing 11 to gain access to
plunger assembly 12. Each of the caps 13 and 14 has a threaded hole
19A and 19B, respectively, for connection of a small diameter
control line.
Plunger assembly 12 comprises a stainless steel rod 21 on which are
mounted from left to right an adjusting nut 22, a spacer collar 23,
a first piston 24, a valve 25 and a second piston 26. Pistons 24
and 26 and valve 25 may be identical in shape and are herein shown
in the form of plastic discs or short cylinders with center holes
just large enough to snugly receive rod 21. Each of the pistons and
the valve 25 are held in position on rod 21 by means of two spring
clips 27. Each spring is seated into an annular groove in rod 21
with the clips spreading apart as they are thrust into position and
then springing back together holding themselves in place. The left
end 28 of rod 21 has a reduced diameter with two opposed parallel
flat faces to permit engagement by a wrench. Just inboard of the
flattened faces, is arranged a threaded portion 29 which receives
nut 22.
In the assembly of valve 10, plumbing fittings 15A, 15B, 15C and 16
together with pipe stubs 17A-17D are first assembled and cemented
together. The inside surface of the longitudinally extending bore
is then accurately milled or bored to the desired inside diameter
if necessary. Cap 14 is then cemented in place. The pre-assembled
plunger 12, less nut 22 and spacer 23, is then installed with cap
13 turned into position and secured by clip 18. Finally, spacer 23
and nut 22 are installed on the end of rod 21 to complete the
assembly.
The operation of valve 10 is best described by reference to FIGS. 4
and 5. FIG. 4 shows plunger 12 in its left-most position with the
water flow path through fittings 15C and 15B indicated by the
arrows. In FIG. 5 plunger 12 is in its right-most position with the
water flow path is through fittings 15A and 15B also indicated by
the arrows.
The position of plunger 12 is seen in each instance to permit water
entry through one of fitting 15A or 15C and to block entry through
the other. A broken line position is also shown in FIG. 5 which
permits a small amount of water to enter through fitting 15C while
allowing the greater flow through fitting 15A. This condition is
set by an appropriate adjustment of nut 22.
In FIGS. 4 and 5, control lines 31 A and 31B are shown installed in
holes 19A and 19B, respectively, of caps 13 and 14. The actuation
or control of the lateral position of plunger 12 is accomplished
through the fluid pressure differential between lines 31A and 31B.
Thus, when the fluid pressure in line 31A is greater than in line
31B, pistons 24 and 26 are driven to the right as shown in FIG. 5;
when the pressure in line 31B exceeds that in line 31A, the pistons
and plunger 12 are driven to the left as in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically the pressure differential valve 10 of
the invention installed in a swimming pool system 32 comprising a
swimming pool 33 and a therapeutic pool 34 served by a common pump
35, a common filter 36 and a common heater 37 with water flow
controlled by two gate valves 38 and 39 in cooperation with
pressure differential valve 10.
Pool 33 is connected to fitting 15A of valve 10 by water line 41,
and pool 34 is connected to fitting 15C by line 42. The intake of
pump 35 is connected to fitting 15B. The outlet of pump 35 is
connected by line 43 to the inlet of filter 36, the outlet of
filter 36 is connected by line 44 to the inlet of heater 37; the
water may flow through gate 38 and line 46 to pool 33 or through
valve 39 and line 47 to pool 34.
When it is desired to circulate water from pool 33 through filter
36 and heater 37, valve 38 is opened and valve 39 is closed. The
opening of valve 38 and the closing of valve 39 causes the pressure
in line 46 to exceed the pressure in line 47. This pressure
differential is transmitted to the left hand and right hand ends of
valve 10 by connections of lines 31A and 31B, respectively, to
lines 46 and 47 as shown in FIG. 7. The plunger 12 is thus driven
to the right as shown in FIG. 5 opening a water flow path through
line 41 and fitting 15A as desired for circulation from pool
33.
In a similar fashion, when valve 38 is closed and valve 39 is
opened, the higher pressure in lines 47 and 31B drives plunger 12
to the left as in FIG. 4 opening a flow path through line 42 and
fitting 15C.
The operation of valve 10 is thus shown to occur automatically in
response to the settings of valves 38 and 39.
While valves 38 and 39 may be manually operated, they may be
replaced by solenoid operated valves or by a single solenoid
operated valve which diverts water into line 46 or line 47
depending upon its energization.
A fully automatic selection of pool 33 or pool 34 for filtering and
heating through the operation of a single switch is thus seen to be
facilitated by the use of the pressure differential valve 10.
In another variation of the invention, a modified valve assembly
10' as shown in FIG. 7 may be substituted for T section 45 and
valves 38 and 39. Assembly 10' is the same as valve 10 of FIGS. 1-6
except that pistons 24 and 26 are removed. Valve 10' is then
operated manually to the right or to the left by moving by hand
piston rod 21 to select pool 33 or 34, respectively. A single
manual control thus provides the desired selection of flow.
With this arrangement and an appropriate adjustment of nut 22, it
is possible to provide a limited flow through pool 34 when the
system is set to select pool 33. This is desirable for the proper
maintenance of the therapeutic pool 34.
Because of the simplification of the procedure for selecting either
the main pool 33 or the therapeutic pool 34, the opportunity for
error is eliminated or greatly reduced, and there is accordingly,
less opportunity for damage to pump 34 through the inadvertent
blocking of its water supply.
Because valves 10 and 10' are less expensive than ordinary gate
valves such as valves 38 and 39 which it replaces, the convenience
and equipment just described are realized simultaneously with a
reduction in system cost which further enhances the value of the
invention.
Although but a few embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *